Max Scherzer not concerned about neck spasm that nearly scratched him from start

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws during the sixth inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians, Saturday, July 19, 2014 in Detroit.
CARLOS OSORIO — The Associated Press

DETROIT >> Max Scherzer’s arm was fine. His neck wasn’t. And that nearly kept him off the mound for Saturday’s nightcap.

“Max actually had a neck issue right before the game, to the point we almost scratched him,” said manager Brad Ausmus, who found out minutes before the start of the second game of a doubleheader against the Indians.

“But he was able to get it stretched out, get it loose enough to where he could pitch. It affected him a little bit on his release point at times. It would come and go on certain pitches. Under the circumstances, he pitched well, considering he was almost a scratch.”

Ausmus scrambled to figure out if Scherzer could go, and as a precaution, sent Rick Porcello down to the bullpen in case he had to warm up in a hurry, and take Max’s spot.

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“Because I could go. At the end of the day, I know my body, I knew I was capable of going and I wanted to go. At the end of the day, I don’t make excuses about any ailments. I go out there, give you everything I’ve got. I went out there, there’s no excuses on ailments,” said Scherzer, who called it a neck spasm. “As soon as I started throwing, I could feel it. I tried to make the adjustments necessary to allow me to pitch tonight and I was able to do that. For me, it’s really a non-issue.”

It’s something that Scherzer’s dealt with before — “but usually in a minor sense. Tonight was more but my arm still felt good” — and figures it will go away with treatment over the next four days.

“Just treatment. I’ve got five days to take care of this. This is just a one-day thing. We got great trainers and we’ll have a program of what I need to do in the next five days to take care of it. Even on the worst day I was able to pitch with it tonight. You give it five days rest, I’ll be able to go on Thursday,” he said.

“No, I’m not concerned about it.”

Scherzer wouldn’t use it as an excuse, instead pointing to the season-high-matching four walks he allowed, and the two home runs he gave up on breaking pitches he hung to Chris Dickerson, against whom he usually does well.

Other than Scherzer’s pitch count climbing fast — 69 by the end of the third inning, and 91 after four, thanks to 19 he had to throw after two outs — the impact of the neck issue wasn’t readily apparent.

“Probably (affected) the change-up a little bit. Max, when he delivers the ball, his head really snaps down,” catcher Alex Avila said. “A few times, every once in a while, you could tell he was favoring it a little bit. for the most part, he made some pretty good pitches.”

About the Author

Detroit Tigers beat writer for The Oakland Press in Pontiac, Michigan. Mowery has spent 19 years covering sports, from preps to pros. He’s been honored with more than 25 awards for writing. Reach the author at matt.mowery@oakpress.com
or follow Matthew B. on Twitter: @MatthewBMowery.